Arizona Squanders Two-Goal Third Period Lead
November 28, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - In a rematch of the 2008 Central Hockey League Southern Conference Finals, the Arizona Sundogs faced off against the Laredo Bucks on Friday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Arizona used strong play in the second period to take a two-goal lead into the third period but Laredo scored three unanswered for a 5-4 come-from-behind victory. Adam Perry found the back of the net in the opening frame for his sixth goal of the season, having tallied at least a goal in each of his first five games with the Sundogs.
The visiting Bucks doubled-up Arizona in shots in the opening period by a 10-5 mark but the Sundogs proved opportunistic taking advantage of a Laredo turnover to open a 1-0 lead. Adam Perry recorded his sixth goal since joining the Sundogs, pushing the free puck past unsuspecting netminder Ryan Gibb at the 7:45 mark. Cory Stillman forced the turnover behind the Laredo net with strong physical play to collect the lone assist on the early go ahead marker. The Bucks pulled even at 1-1 just over three minutes later as a Jaye Judd centering pass deflected off a Sundogs player's stick and past Joel Gistedt who began to slide from the near post to play the attempted pass.
Laredo took their first lead of the game just 1:03 into the second but Arizona would answer 12 seconds later to keep the game even at 2-2. Forward Bobby Russell opened scoring in the period with a low shot far post past Gistedt for his third of the year from Adam Rivet and Alex Goupil. Karl Sellan answered with a quick turnaround shot off a setup pass from Mark Kolanos between the circles for his 10th goal of the season. Defenseman Jon Landry also assisted on the equalizer. Kolanos and Landry combined again with 11:28 to play in the frame to regain a one-goal lead for their club. While on the power play, Landry sent an outlet pass to Kolanos who slipped behind the Bucks defense, skating in alone on Gibb and converting for his 11th of the year. Gistedt also helped on the play for his second helper of the season. Dominating play in the offensive zone, Arizona pushed its lead to 4-2 at the period's 14:29 mark as the line of Andre Selander, Tyler Liebel and Peter Cartwright combined to give their club its biggest lead of the game. Selander received a pass at the top of the crease and sent a wrist shot through the legs of Gibb for his first goal with Arizona. Liebel and Cartwright collected assists, cycling the puck down low before sending a setup feed to Selander between the circles. The Sundogs held a 15-6 advantage in shots in the second period.
For the second time in as many periods, Matt Suderman and Erick Lizon gathered at center ice and traded punches to open the period. Skating 5-on-4 following penalties to Rick Kozak, Liebel and Selander at the 1:12 mark, the Bucks pulled back to within one, cutting the Sundogs lead to 4-3. Rivet sent a wrist shot from the half boards that found its way through traffic and past Gistedt 2:03 into the frame. Veteran Jeff Bes and rookie Darryl Smith were credited with assists on the man advantage tally. Laredo tied the game at four goals apiece with its second of the period just past the 10-minute mark as Ryan Salvis lifted a rebound into the back of the net for his first of the year. Russell assisted for his second point of the contest. The game seemed to be heading to overtime but Goupil found the back of the net with less than a minute to play in regulation, all but securing the Bucks' come-from-behind victory. Rivet assisted on the game-winner for his third point of the night.
Joel Gistedt got his third-straight start in net for Arizona but fell to 3-5-0 on the year after allowing five goals on 24 shots. Ryan Gibb turned aside 27 of 31 shots in the win to improve to 4-1-0. Both clubs tallied one power play goal with Arizona receiving twice as many opportunities as Laredo, 6-3. The final shot tally was 31-24 in favor of the Sundogs.
The two teams square off again tomorrow night at Tim's Toyota Center at 7:05pm. Tickets are available by phone at 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), online at www.gettix.net and in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.
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